Under My Brother's Rival's Roof

A white van rolled past the lawns of the Hayes estate in the Los Angeles hills. Across the courtyard, Julian Hayes walked in a black suit, as much at home there as the fountain and the enormous house beyond it.

Ellie Turner stopped beside her brother and stared.

"Nate, for your mortal enemy, he has a much bigger house than we do."

"His house is slightly bigger. Name one other thing he's better at." Nate turned toward her. "Remember what I told you?"

She made a small fist. "Act poor. Act pitiful. Act weak. Melt Julian Hayes's permanently frozen heart."

"Exactly. We're bankrupt. Your chances of living in a mansion depend on this."

"Okay. We've got this."

"What are you doing here?"

They turned. Julian had approached from behind, hands in his pockets, his expression offering no encouragement.

Nate pointed at him. "You need to take responsibility for my sister."

"I've never so much as touched her hair. What exactly am I responsible for?"

"How can you say it has nothing to do with you? The Turners went bankrupt because of you!"

"You fell for an investment scam. What does that have to do with me?"

"You're heartless. They seized our house!" Nate turned, took Ellie by the shoulders, and lowered his voice. "Cry."

Ellie touched her chest and attempted a wounded expression. Julian looked on coldly, though the sight of her stirred a brief memory of carrying her on his back when she was still a student.

Nate did not wait for convincing tears.

"We're homeless. I can sleep in a basement, but what about her? She's never had to live like that." He dropped to the ground and wrapped both arms around Julian's leg. "I'm begging you. When I have money again, I'll pay you double whatever it costs to keep her."

Ellie covered her face. Her brother had discovered a whole new level of embarrassing.

"Let go," Julian said.

"Not until you agree."

If Nate had any money left, he would never have begged this man. But of all the men he knew, Julian was the only one who showed no interest in women. His pretty, sweet little sister was not going to end up with one of the others.

He looked up and winked frantically at Ellie.

Was that supposed to be her cue? She smoothed her hair and stepped forward.

"Nate, we don't need to beg. I can live in the basement."

"We're not leaving! Summer here gets hot, and that place is dirty and cramped, with no air-conditioning. You can't live there. I have to find you somewhere better."

Julian knew perfectly well what Nate was doing. Emotional blackmail, delivered from knee height.

And yet he remembered a sunlit living room. He had been reading the newspaper in a black shirt when Ellie, wearing her school clothes and carrying her backpack, ran in and threw her arms around him from behind.

"Nate! You're home early!"

He turned. So did she, her face suddenly close to his.

Back in the courtyard, Julian looked at the grown woman in front of him. He could not turn her away.

"All right. Your sister can stay."

Nate exhaled. Ellie tried to hide her smile. Julian's glance caught it anyway.

Nate retrieved two white suitcases and a black bag from the van, pushing them over with some effort. Then he took his sister's hand.

"Ellie, you'll have to put up with staying here for a few months."

"If it's such a hardship, she can leave."

Nate's expression changed. He scrambled into the van and sped away, leaving a cloud of exhaust that made Ellie cough and wave a hand in front of her face.

"Come on." Julian took a suitcase.

Her brother had said to be sweet when staying in someone else's house. Ellie planted her hands on her hips, prepared a smile, and hurried after him along the garden path.

"Julian! Thank you for taking me in."

Her foot caught. She pitched forward, and he turned fast enough to catch her around the waist. Her hands landed on his shoulders. For an instant, neither moved.

The Hayes and Turner families had always been at odds. Julian had no business imagining a future with her.

He let his expression cool.

"Don't say my name like that. We aren't that close."

"I just thought, since we'll be living under the same roof, we could be a little friendlier."

"You're staying temporarily. In a few months you'll leave. There's no need to make this personal."

He released her, took both suitcases, and walked on. Ellie stumbled before regaining her balance. Watching him go, she rubbed her chin.

Apparently he disliked her because of Nate. How was she supposed to survive the next few months?